[RTTY] WI0WA WPX RTTY

[Larry L Lindblom]

WI0WA SO/HP
                Qs        Pts        Mults
80m:         88         194         24 
40m:         116         314         45 
20m:         264         399         70 
15m:         469         1035         194 
10m:         189         459         80 
Totals:         1126         2401         413    
Score:     991613 Total:
Band conditions were poor from the upper midwest due to the A and K
values. 
Ten meters was way down from last year.  But, 15 was excellent.  There
appeared to be more activity on 80 and 40 than in prior years, but it
wasn't enough to totally compensate for the demise of 10 meters.  As the
solar cycle declines it will only continue to get worse, which is bad
news for those of us in the middle of the US towards the north.  
 
I printed a lot of rough or raspy sounding signals during the contest. 
I was SO1R2D (Single Op, One Radio, Dual Decode).  I ran a DSP-599ZX 
as a dumb terminal with remdodulation and noise reduction turned on and 
rttywrite running on the sound card.  Typically there is only a nominal 
difference between them.  This time however, the DSP-599ZX consistently 
printed better than rttwrite, especially on 10 and 15.  
 
Of my 4 five-banders only one was in the USA.  My five-banders were P43P,
HP1/DJ7AA, VE1OP, and W1RY??  There could be one more than listed but I
didn't keep any records during the contest so this is strictly from
memory.

One of my big moments was when A51B answered my CQ Friday evening on 20. 
Unfortunately I didn't work him with my own call, but I have the
satisfaction of knowing I worked him with my own station. It was a great
feeling when he called in!

Unfortunately it seems like the face of RTTY contesting is changing and 
maybe not for the better.  I had several bad experiences during the 
contest with the high speed CW types who are new to RTTY contesting. 
For example I CQed, and got a call.   I sent the exchange and in return 
get a CQ message sent to me.  I immediately hit my "NR NR NR ?"  message 
figuring he hit the wrong key by mistake and heard nothing in return.  I
again hit "NR NR NR?" and got no response and kill the Q.  Also, several
times in working a station I got no TU or CFM message. I know it is
quicker not to send that and just send CQ or QRZ, but am I in his log,
did he get my exchange, etc?
 
Five years ago when I first got into RTTY contesting I was pleasantly 
surprised to find it was more gentlemanly and far less cut throat than 
SSB or CW contesting.  Now unfortunately I'm starting to get that 
DeJavue feeling.  I just hope that a few "hot rods" will not drag the 
rest of us down to their level..
 
Also, it bothers me that at least one serious stations station who is
known to be in a call area other than the one in their suffix was not
signing with the 
portable designator.  This only bothers me because the rules require it 
and it can impact multiplier count.

73 and lets do it again next year.
W0ETC/WI0WA Larry in IA.